Lucky Baller

Chapter 1

Chapter One

T essa

“I feel like I’m cheating.” Looking over at my best friend, Autumn, I catch her smile and roll her eyes.

“Really, Tess?” She chuckles, bouncing her son, JJ, on her hip.

“What? I can’t help it. I’m a Miami Mavericks fan for life.”

“I know, so does everyone else here. I can’t believe you wore a Mavericks T-shirt to the Cougars training camp.”

“I’m here for moral support.” I reach out and tickle JJ’s side, making him laugh. “What kind of best friend would I be if I let you come to this on your own? Besides, you know nothing about the game. Someone has to explain it to you.”

“All I need to know is that my husband is the new kicking coach, and with that comes my loyalty, and this little guy’s.” She smiles at her son.

“I admit, it’s a good move on the Cougars’ part in hiring the legendary Jeremy Baldwin as their new kicking coach. Their kicking game needed some work.”

“Right?” She laughs. “We can’t live off him selling ass photographs forever. We all know my salary at the shelter isn’t going to pay for our new house.”

“I don’t know,” I tease, tapping my finger against my chin. “His ass is legendary.”

“Stop.” She pushes her shoulder into mine. “Don’t let him hear you talking like that. His ego is big enough as it is.”

I nod. She’s right about that. Jeremy is confident, and yes, a little cocky.

However, when it comes to his wife and son, he keeps it in check.

They’re his entire world, and he doesn’t care who knows it.

In fact, I think he enjoys showing them off to the world.

Hence the reason we’re here for training camp.

It’s family day and not open to the public.

“He has earned his nickname,” I agree, returning my attention to the field.

“You know, I might be a die-hard Mavericks fan, but I can still appreciate a man in football pants.” My eyes take in the players on the field, and I come to the conclusion that football pants are a girl’s best friend. Just saying.

“I’m not sure I ever realized the appeal until now, but, my friend, I think you’re on to something,” Autumn agrees.

“Hey, princess,” Jeremy says, greeting his wife. We’re standing on the sidelines. Since it’s family day, it’s pretty much open. “Come here, little man.” Jeremy reaches for JJ, who happily holds his arms open for his daddy. “You ladies need anything?” he asks.

I’m tempted to tell him one of his players, but I bite my tongue. I talk a good game, but random hookups aren’t my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I commend those who can have sex with a stranger and walk away the next morning, satisfied, and never look back. I’m just not wired that way.

“We’re all set,” Autumn replies.

“I’m going to take him out on the field with me. Introduce him to some of the guys. Practice is almost over, then I’ll introduce you.” He leans in and presses his lips to her before walking away with JJ.

“You know,” I muse, “if you weren’t my best friend, I might be a little jealous of you.”

“What?” She turns to look at me. “Why would you be jealous of me? I have unidentified bodily fluids on me from my son at all times, a husband who’s cocky as hell and thinks he knows it all, and a mortgage for a house on Matthew Street that cuts into JJ’s college fund.”

“Oh, stop. You’re living the dream and you know it.”

“I’m not sure if it’s the dream, but my dream, yes. I love the life Jeremy and I are building.”

“Hence the jealousy.”

“You’ll find your happily ever after,” she assures me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “He’s everything I never knew I wanted.”

“He’s so good with him.” I motion toward the field where Jeremy has JJ on his shoulders while he’s talking to one of the players, and JJ, well, he’s all smiles.

At two, he has no idea the depth of where he is.

Most kids never get to experience a professional football game, let alone be on the field with the players and coaching staff.

The whistle blows, and the players start motioning for the families to join them on the field. Autumn and I head toward Jeremy and JJ.

“Thomas Bourgeois, this is my wife, Autumn, and her best friend, Tessa. Princess, Tessa, Thomas is our starting kicker.” Jeremy makes introductions.

“Ladies,” Thomas says, giving us a charming smile. He glances at my chest, and I can’t help but smirk. “Looks like we need to get you some Cougars gear.” He winks.

“Nah, I’m good.” I give Thomas, or number two, a smug smile.

He throws his hands to his chest over his heart as if he’s wounded. “Come on now, don’t be like that,” he tosses out with a grin. I give him a look that tells him I’m not buying what he’s selling. He throws his head back in laughter and stumbles back a step, bumping into a teammate.

“What’s up, Bourgeois?” the very tall, very sexy number eighteen asks.

“This one.” He points at me.

I feel my body heat as number eighteen rakes his eyes over me. Slowly, they catalog every inch of me. Finally, his eyes scan back to my chest and freeze there. “We need to do something about that.” He nods to my chest.

It’s a good thing I’m a solid C cup or I’d be offended they were talking about my actual chest size. However, I know it’s the Miami Mavericks logo that sprawls across my chest that’s offending them. “Eyes up here.”

He smirks. “You’d look good in a number eighteen Cougars jersey. I can help you out of that one.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I can help you out with that. A Cougars jersey.” He points to my chest.

“Bless your heart,” I say, making my voice sugary sweet.

“I’m sorry, but I’m a Mavs girl.” I shrug, not taking my eyes off his.

His eyes are the deepest sky blue. You know those tropical vacation videos you see on social media, the ones that promise relaxation and free drinks?

His eyes look like the water in those videos. Vibrant blue.

“Oh, no, no, no, this won’t do,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest, planting his feet on the turf.

His arms are thick and toned with muscle, and he has those veins…

You know, the sexy veins in a man’s arms?

The ones that tell you that he works hard at what he does, whether it’s his job or in the gym?

In this case, I’m sure it’s both. I mean, he plays for the professional football league.

He didn’t get here by pure luck. I allow myself to indulge and take in this beautiful man before me.

“Like what you see?” he asks.

Thomas mutters, “Lucky bastard,” at the same time.

“Actually, I was just sizing you up. Comparing you to number eight on the Mavs. You do know who A.J. Holland is, right?”

“Pfft,” he scoffs. “I know A.J., but I promise you, sweetheart, I can make you feel better than him.”

“What?” I stand a little taller. I should be offended, but if I'm honest with myself, I’m a little turned on.

“I said, I’m better than him.” He grins.

I don’t know if my mind and body are playing tricks on me, but damn, if this isn’t the second time in a matter of minutes I’ve taken his words as a sexual innuendo. I need to squash this shit.

“Oh, that’s cute. I’m sure one day you might get to his level,” I fire back. There, back on a level playing field. However, the grin that tilts his lips and the dimple that peeks out from under his beard tell me my words don’t affect him. Damn it.

He turns to look at Thomas. “She yours, Bourgeois?”

“Mine, actually,” Jeremy speaks up. “Landon, this is my son JJ, my wife, Autumn, and her best friend, Tessa. They’re mine,” Jeremy announces with no room for discussion.

Once again, I’m reminded how lucky my best friend is—to have a man like Jeremy to navigate life with. He loves her and their son unconditionally. And because Autumn is my best friend, I get grouped with them. He’s a good man, regardless of his cockiness at times.

Landon Barker raises his hands in the air, his number eighteen practice jersey rising to show the V where his gym shorts hang low.

He might be a cocky player, but if he kept his mouth shut, he’d definitely be one to keep around to look at.

Damn, I can’t imagine the countless hours he has to spend in the gym and on the field to be ripped like that.

As if he can read my mind, he rips his practice jersey and the compression shirt he had on underneath over his head and wipes down his face.

I tune out the conversation around me as I take him in.

My eyes roam over his muscular chest as I work my way down to his abs.

I count silently in my head. Eight. I lick my lips as I imagine what it would be like to run my hands over them, maybe trace them with my tongue.

“Hey.” Autumn bumps her shoulder into mine, pulling me out of my fog where it was just me and number eighteen’s abs.

“Sorry.” I turn to face her.

“The food’s set up. We’re going to head over and eat.” She points over my shoulder where, sure enough, the catering staff has brought an array of picnic-type foods to several tables on the field.

“Definitely.” My eyes dance back to Landon, where I find him watching me. “I’m suddenly starving.” I lick my lips for emphasis before turning back to Autumn. “Let me take JJ while you and Jeremy make your plates, then I’ll make mine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” I reach my arms toward Jeremy to take JJ from him, and he practically jumps into my arms, laughing when I snuggle him close, then settle him on my hip.

Having JJ in my arms will keep Landon at bay.

At least, that’s the hope. Not that I wouldn’t have offered all the same, but it’s an added bonus that he’s now our buffer.

Jeremy and Autumn walk toward the tables, and I stare after them. “Did you have fun today?” I ask JJ.

“Daddy.” He points to where Jeremy and Autumn are filling their plates.